Riot Games Plans Damage Profile Changes for Top Lane Champions
The competitive and solo queue meta in League of Legends is shaping up, and Riot Games is looking to make significant changes to the damage profiles of several top lane champions in upcoming patches.
On the game’s PBE server, adjustments have been observed for 11 champions, including Sion, Ornn, Tahm Kench, Mordekaiser, and Malphite. These changes specifically focus on the champions’ damage, with shifts from base damage to scaling ratio damage.
For instance, Sett will see a reduction in his second punch base damage at higher levels, but an increase of 15% in its AD ratio. Additionally, his ultimate ability will have reduced base damage but an increased bonus AD ratio of 60%. Similarly, Mordekaiser’s Q ability will have a significant reduction in base damage at later levels, but an AP ratio increase of 15%.
Related: Here are the LoL Patch 13.12 patch notes.
Malphite’s Q ability is also expected to have its base damage reduced at all levels, but it will receive a 15% increase in its AP ratio. Furthermore, the ability’s movement speed steal has been boosted by 5% at all levels, enhancing its utility in pursuing enemies or initiating teamfights.
However, while some champions are facing straight nerfs, others are gaining increased durability at the cost of damage. Sion, for example, will experience damage reductions to his Decimating Smash ability along with reductions to his shield at later levels, making him slightly less tanky. Nevertheless, in the late game, Sion’s itemization should compensate for the reduced tankiness.
There is already speculation among players about how these changes will impact different champions. Some argue that these adjustments are overall nerfs since many top laners struggle to build enough damage items to fully utilize the increased ratio, rendering the changes ineffective on the Summoner’s Rift.
The next update, Patch 13.13, is set to be released on Wednesday, June 28. As a result, there is still ample time for developers to reconsider or revert these changes, depending on their evaluation.